The Gregory School’s chapter of the DreamCatchers Foundation has entered its second year of fulfilling wishes for hospice patients. Led by Kierra Harrison and Caitlyn Saavedra, both class of ‘25, the club continues its partnership with Agape Hospice to identify wishes and work with hospice patients, their families, and caregivers to make dreams come true. This endeavor is both rigorous and immensely rewarding.
„When you’re working on all the logistics, you can get tunnel vision. You almost forget you’re doing something for someone because you’re so focused on getting there. Then you experience the reason for your work.“
Caitlyn and Kierra spent the summer earning the certifications required to become official volunteers at Agape Hospice, providing them the access required to communicate with the patients and their families and to make arrangements on a patient’s behalf to fulfill the wish. Currently, TGS DreamCatchers are working to fulfill a patient’s dream of seeing Ballet Tucson’s The Nutcracker for a final time.
“To start, we spend a huge amount of time on organization and logistics,” Kierra said.
“For example, we’re researching how to buy handicapped tickets, working with Medstar to arrange transportation, finding an aide to accompany the patient, and talking with the patient and the family about the date,” Caitlyn added.
Clearly, being involved in TGS DreamCatchers provides powerful and meaningful experience in organization, planning, communication and empathy. But the biggest payoff happens in fulfilling the wish. “When you’re working on all the logistics, you can get tunnel vision,” Kierra said. “You almost forget you’re doing something for someone because you’re so focused on getting there. Then you experience the reason for your work.”
Caitlyn agreed. “After doing all the logistics and you’re in the dream, that makes it real.”
The Gregory School is proud that our student clubs are student-driven and diverse, allowing students to enjoy new experiences and to pursue their passions in the ways that most appeal to them. A complete list of student clubs is on our Student Resources page.
